Suture clamp

ABSTRACT

A suture clamp includes a compressible member having a hole extending therethrough and means for locking the suture in the hole, the locking means including a ridge extending along a first outer surface of the member substantially transverse to the hole. The ridge is pressed into the member by a scissor clamp having two pivot arms with clamping jaws at the extremities thereof, one of the jaws having a die extending substantially parallel with the corresponding arm such that the die presses the ridge into the member when the member is positioned between the jaws and the jaws are compressed together.

[ Dec. 31, 1974 [54] SUTURE CLAMP [76] Inventor: Charles W. l-lardwick,600 W. 27th St., Sanford, Fla. 32771 [22] Filed: Aug. 22, 1973 [21]Appl. No.: 390,514

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1890 Brennen 403/3912/1939 I Dickie et al 24/115 A UX OTHER PUBLICATIONS A New Method ofSternal Approximation, The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol. 15, No'.5,-May 1973, pp.

Primary Examiner-Lucie l-l. Laudenslager Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Duckworth, Hobby & Allen [5 7] ABSTRACT A suture clamp includes acompressible member having a hole extending therethrough and means forlocking the suture in the hole, the locking means including a ridgeextending along'a first outer surface of the member substantiallytransverse to the hole. The ridge is pressed into the member by ascissor clamp having two pivot arms with clamping jaws at theextremities thereof, one of the jaws having a die extendingsubstantially parallel with the corresponding arm such that the diepresses the ridge into the member when the member is positioned betweenthe jaws and the jaws are compressed together.

6 Claims, 6 nm'w'm Figures PATENTEUBEBB 1 I974 SHEET 10F 2 FIG. 3

'PATENTEBHEW 1 I914 3; 857. 39s

' SHEET 20F 2 'IIIIIII/ W FIG. 6

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The presentinvention relates to surgical tools, and in particular relates toapparatus useful for clamping sutures, and the like. i

2. Description of the Prior Art In medical practice, deep incisions orinjuries are stitched with a suture, which may comprise strong syntheticmonofilament, silk, or an inert surgical wire. Generally the incision isstitched in a manner to leave both ends of the suture proximal to eachother. After each stitch, the physician ties the suture ends together.

There are certain problems associated with this tying technique. Forexample, slippage of suture knots can make the tying operationdifficult. Further, the tying of surgical wires is difficult under thebest conditions.

There have been suggestions in the prior art for employing clamps toreplace the tying off process. McConnaughey, in US Pat. No. 462,270,teaches a compressible sleeve having a slot for fitting over the suture,and a scissor clamp for compressing the slot..In U.S. Pat. No.3,664,345, Dabbs et al., disclose a surgical button useful for retaininga suture after a stitch is taken in a wound. Davidson, in U.S. Pat. No.2,075,508, teaches a similar arrangemment. Other suture retentiontechniques are taught in the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,580,256 toWilkinson et als, 3,650,274 to Edwards et al.; and- 3,31 l,l l toSingerman et a]. Examples of ligation clamps are disclosed in U.S. Pat.Nos. 3,503,398 to Fogarty et al; and 3,175,556. to Wood et al.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention contemplates sutureclamping means comprising a compressible member having a hole extendingtherethrough and means for locking a suture in the hole,'the lockingmeanscomprising a ridge extending along a first outer surface of themember substantially transverse to the hole, and a corresponding grooveon the opposite surface.

The present invention further includes a scissor clamp useful forholding the member firmly while it is slid down suture into properposition, then for crimping the ridge into the member and compressingthe member to lock the suture in the hole.

THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clamp member in ac-'cordanc with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an alternate embodiment of the clamp member ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of scissor clamping means according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which theclamping means of FIG. 3 is employed with the clamp member of FIG. 3.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are cross sectional end views of the clamping means ofFIG. 3 and the clamp member of FIGS. 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The suture clamp of the present invention includesa compressible clamp member for receiving the suture and a scissor-likeclamp for compressing the clamp member for locking the suture in place.This arrangement will now be described with reference to the drawing.

Noting FIG. 1, the suture clamp of the present invention includes acompressible clamp member 10 having two holes l2, 14 extendingtherethrough. The clamp member 10 suitably comprises any one of amalleable metal which is inert to human tissue; for example, stainlesssteel or tantallum may be employed.

The clamp member 10 further includes means for locking suture in theholes l2, 14. In accordance with the present invention, the lockingmeans comprises a ridge 16 extending along an outer surface 18 of the Imember 10 and substantially transverse to the holes 12, 14. Preferably,the ridge 16 is an integral part of the clamp member 10. The clampmember 10 further includes a groove 20 extending along another outersurface 22 opposing, and parallel to the ridge 16. In use, the suture isthreaded through one of the holes, 12, 14, the wound is stitched and thesuture threaded through the other hole and the clamp member 10 isclamped as described below with reference to FIGS. 3-6.

An alternate embodiment of the clamp member is shown in FIG. 2 and isreferred to generally as 10'. The clamp member 10' is essentiallyidentical to the clamp member 10 of FIG. 1 except that the'member 10'includes slots l3, l5 communicating with the respective holes 12, 14 andextending to the adjacent side walls between the two outer surfaces 18,22. In use, the alter nate clamp member 10"is-em'ployed in a mannersimilar to that described above with respect to the clamp 10, exceptthat both ends of the suture may be pushed into the holes 12, 14 via thecommunicating slots l3, 15 after the stitching operation is completed.

A scissor clamp specifically adapted for the embodiments of the clampmembers like that shown in FIGS.

l and 2 will now be described with reference to FIG. 3.

Noting FIG. 3, the clamp, referred to generally as 30, includes two arms32, 34 pivotably joined together in a scissor-like fashion by a pivotpin 36. Each arm 32 has a respective clamping jaw 38, 40 at oneextremity thereof. One jaw 38 has a die 42 extending substantiallyparallel with the corresponding arm 32, the die having dimensionssubstantially corresponding to the ridge 16 in the clamping member 10 ofFIG. 1. The jaw 38 further includes a flexible plate 44 having a slot 46therein adapted to receive the ridge 16 when the clamp member 10 ispositioned between the jaws 38,40. The other jaw has a flexible tongue48 adjacent thereto having dimensions corresponding to the groove 20. Akeyway 50 is formed in the other jaw 40, and is dimensioned so as toreceive the tongue 48 when depressed.

Operation of the clamp 30 in cooperation with the clamp member -l0 willbe described with reference to FIGS. 4-6.

As shown in FIG. 4, prior to the clamping operation a suture 52 isthreaded through one hole 12 of the clamp member 10, the wound isstitched and the suture 52 is then threaded through the other hole 14.The clamp 30 is then brought into engagement with the clamp member 10.Now noting FIG. 5, the clamp member 10 is positioned'between the jaws38, 40 of the clamp 30 such that the ridge 16 extends through the slot46 and is opposing the die 42. Additionally, the tongue 48 fits looselyin the groove 20. When the jaws 38, 40 are compressed (note FIG. 6), theridge 16 is deformed and pressed into the clamp member 10, restrictingthe cross sectional area of the holes 12, 14 and locking the suture 52therein. During compression, the tongue 48 enters the keyway 50 allowingthe clamp member to be further deformed so as to flatten the groove 20.I While a specific suture clamp arrangement is shown in the drawings anddescribed above, it will be understood that various modifications can bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. For example, the clamp member 10 may comprise a single holethrough which both lengths of suture are threaded.

I claim: 1. Suture clamping means comprising: a compressible memberhaving a hole extending I therethrough; means for locking a suture insaid hole, said locking means comprising a ridge extending along a firstouter surface of said member substantially transverse to said hole andwherein compression of said ridge reduces the cross-sectional area ofsaid hole to lock suture therein.

2. Clamping means as recited in claim 1 further comprising a grooveextending along another surface of said member opposing said ridge.

3. Clamping means as recited in claim 2 further comprising another. holethrough said member substantially parallel with said one hole.

4. Clamping means as recited in claim 2 wherein said member comprises amalleable material inert to human tissue.

5. Clamping means as recited in claim 1 furthercomprising said memberhaving a slot extending from a surface thereof and communicating withsaid hole.

6. Clamping means comprising:

a compressible member having a hole extending therethrough;

a ridge extending along an outer surface of said member substantiallytransverse to said hole; and means for reducing the cross-sectional areaof said hole, said means comprising said ridge.

1. Suture clamping means comprising: a compressible member having a holeextending therethrough; means for locking a suture in said hole, saidlocking means comprising a ridge extending along a first outer surfaceof said member substantially transverse to said hole and whereincompression of said ridge reduces the cross-sectional area of said holeto lock suture therein.
 2. Clamping means as recited in claim 1 furthercomprising a groove extending along another surface of said memberopposing said ridge.
 3. Clamping means as recited in claim 2 furthercomprising another hole through said member substantially parallel withsaid one hole.
 4. Clamping means as recited in claim 2 wherein saidmember comprises a malleable material inert to human tissue.
 5. Clampingmeans as recited in claim 1 further comprising said member having a slotextending from a surface thereof and communicating with said hole. 6.Clamping means comprising: a compressible member having a hole extendingtherethrough; a ridge extending along an outer surface of said membersubstantially transverse to said hole; and means for reducing thecross-sectional area of said hole, said means comprising said ridge.